Pumpkin seeds: properties and application

Pumpkin is an indispensable product for the preparation of many dishes, as well as for healthy human life. People discovered this product for a very long time, and they still use it.

However, besides the pumpkin itself, its seeds are also valued, which contain a large amount of vitamins necessary for a person. But in addition to the benefits, they can bring and harm, which many do not even realize.

The composition of this product is distinguished by its huge number of useful components that support the body.

It is worth more detail on the elements that are contained in the seeds.

• Pectin. This component has a great effect on lowering cholesterol, and it costs from four to fifteen grams per day. This dose is the most optimal for the body.
• Various amino acids. As you know, amino acids are necessary for the human body as a building material. They form muscles, hair, skin, and also some other tissues.
• Arachic acids. These acids are irreplaceable, as their task in the body is very large.
• Beganic acid. They cause an increase in blood cholesterol. They are also often used in hair conditioners, as these acids have moisturizing properties.
• Palmitic acid.
• Oleic acids.

• Omega 6. Omega 6 refers to acids that the body cannot produce itself, which is why they must be obtained from food. This component has a positive effect on growth and development, the normal functioning of the liver, the regularity of the menstrual cycles and many other processes.
• Omega 3. Like Omega 6, this component can only be obtained from outside. This element is very important for the human body as a reducing hormonal balance. It also has a good effect on the growth of nails and hair, and also on the health of the skin.
• Phytosterol. Phytosterol acts as a defender of the heart from heart disease. It also has a very positive effect on the brain and its work.
• A huge amount of vitamins. About the role of vitamins in the human body is not worth talking. Here and so everything is extremely clear. The presence of these components in pumpkin seeds make them even more useful and more indispensable.
• Mineral salts.
• Alimentary fiber.
• Also worth noting is the presence of a large amount of vegetable protein and fiber.

No less diverse and mineral composition of the product.

Pumpkin seeds contain:

• manganese;
• phosphorus;
• copper;
• zinc;
• silicon;
• iron;
• cobalt;
• iodine;
• potassium and many other elements.

The amino acids found in pumpkin seeds include:

• tryptophan (about 0.7 g);
• arginine (4.9 g);
• tyrosine (2.9 g);
• valine (1.7 g);
• leucine (about 2.5 g);
• and threonine and lysine (1.1 g).

The presence of arginine in this product has a positive effect on building muscle mass, as well as the creation of many tissues.

A lack of tryptophan can lead to sleep problems and increased irritability. This amino acid must enter the human body daily.

It is important to note the value of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B9, C and E, which are in the seeds. These vitamins are responsible for many processes occurring in the human body.

Pumpkin seeds have not only a large number of nutrients, but also a huge amount of calories. Therefore, especially not to get involved in them.

100 grams of this product contains 540 calories. And the composition of BZHU has a high amount of fat - 46.1 grams.Proteins in half less - 23.4 grams, and carbohydrates about 20 grams.

The benefits of pumpkin seeds can be talked about for a long time. This and the intake of large amounts of vitamins, and the normalization of sleep, and lowering cholesterol and much more.

Enumerate all therapeutic properties in order.

• Normalization of sleep. At the expense of such an acid as tryptophan, the quality of night sleep improves, as it gets into the human body, it turns into serotonin, which affects sleep.
• Prevention of hypertension. To improve the flow of blood can such an amino acid as arginine. Getting together with the seeds in the body, it expands the arteries and blood vessels, which is why the risk of hypertension is reduced to a minimum.
• Lowering cholesterol. To reduce cholesterol, it is necessary that the substance phytosterol in pumpkin seeds regularly gets into the body.
• The quality of the skin. Vitamins A and E will help to make the skin smooth and elastic - they reduce the possibility of wrinkles.
• Prevention of prostatitis. The methods of prevention of this unpleasant disease include the consumption of fatty acids and zinc. In pumpkin seeds these substances very much.
• Removal of worms. In many Asian countries, this product is used as a drug for worms, as in this area it is really very effective.

• Prevention of heart disease. Due to the consumption of this product, the work of the heart is improved. This is due to magnesium, which normalizes cardiac function.
• Protection of the body against diabetes. The amount of protein contained in these seeds is sufficient for blood sugar to return to its normal state.
• Normal bowel function. We can talk on this topic for a very long time, but this will be especially important for people who suffer from constipation. Sunflower seeds contain a lot of fiber, which contributes to the natural cleansing of the body and the removal of toxins from it.
• Prevention of thyroid disease. This work is done with the help of zinc, which supports the normal functioning of the previously mentioned gland.
• Excellent blood clotting. This effect is improved by vitamin K.
• Benefits for immunity. As mentioned earlier, pumpkin seeds contain a large amount of vitamins. When using this product in the autumn or winter period, you can protect your body from colds.
• Memory improvement. Scientists have repeatedly proved that pumpkin seeds improve memory and make it more flexible.
• Prevention of infertility in men. This very unpleasant problem can be prevented by using the phosphorus contained in this product. The chance of successful conception increases precisely because of him.

It is also no secret that pumpkin seeds, like any other seeds or nuts, are a valuable source of protein. This quality is very important for people adhering to vegetarianism.

It is very important to know that pumpkin seeds will be more useful in its raw form, as during heat treatments many useful substances are lost. To clean the seeds preferably shortly before they eat.

Many doctors say that seeds can be eaten right with their skin - there is a lot of zinc and other useful substances in it. It also has a special protein that can stop the reproduction of many fungi.

Unfortunately, in addition to useful, pumpkin seeds also have harmful properties, which can not be silent.

For example, the daily rate of consumption of this product can not be increased, since it threatens with heavy assimilation of other products, as well as overweight. And the daily rate is about one hundred grams.

It is also worth limiting the oil made from these seeds, since its caloric content is no less. It is also worth knowing that such an oil can move the stones in the gallbladder, and further, lead to irreversible consequences.

Do not use too salty seeds, as they provoke swelling.

For teeth, there is also harm, namely for enamel, which is damaged in the process of cleaning the seeds from the peel. And salicylic acid in them can cause burns of the gastric mucosa. Contraindications for those who have gastric diseases are also associated with this.

Other contraindications include:

• obesity;
• allergy;
• high acidity of gastric juice.

Also, many women are concerned with such a topic as the use of pumpkin seeds during pregnancy.

During pregnancy to use this product is not prohibited. Moreover, even necessary.

Due to the fact that the product contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals, its use will favorably affect not only the woman, but also her future child.

It is important to note that the presence of iron in the seeds helps prevent the development of anemia.

Also, this product has a great effect on the work of the heart and blood vessels, which is very important during pregnancy.

However, it is not necessary to lean heavily on pumpkin seeds. As mentioned earlier, they are distinguished by their high calorie content, and also can cause nausea and many other inconveniences.

The number of seeds should be reduced or eliminated completely in the case when the child has problems with the chair or vomiting.

Separately, it must be said that the use of this product in case of pancreatitis is strictly prohibited, since high fat content can lead to gland overload and slow down the digestion of foods. In addition to the natural symptoms of pancreatitis, nausea with severe abdominal pain may be added.

In addition, the consumption of seeds in pancreatitis causes an enzymatic function, which aggravates the disease and leads to the very beginning of treatment.

But besides all diseases and contraindications, many people simply do not like pumpkin seeds. Although it is worth noting that this product is quite tasty, and like it to almost everyone.

To preserve all the useful properties, you need to know exactly how to eat this product.

Immediately it should be said that this should be done only in raw seed, since with any culinary treatment all the properties simply disappear, and only extra calories fall into the human body.

Few people know that seeds that have fungi and mold can cause liver cancer. That is why all the spoiled products should be immediately discarded.

Doctors recommend to use them on a full stomach, and not more than one hundred grams. This amount of fiber will greatly benefit the body and stomach.

We must not forget about pumpkin oil. It is advised to use it in the morning and in the evening half an hour before meals. And the required dose is equal to one tablespoon. Thanks to this product, the body can get rid of toxins and parasites, as well as adjust the liver.

Pumpkin oil is an indispensable product for men suffering from prostatitis. It prevents the development of formations and inflammations.

There is a very useful method for the prevention of adenoma.

Step-by-step instruction:

• clean a pound of seeds from the peel (it is very important to leave a thin film covering the seeds);
• then you need to carefully grind the resulting;
• after that, one cup of pre-heated honey is added to the mixture;
• all gruel rolled into small balls;
• the balls are divided into ten pieces and put in a jar, which is subsequently left in the refrigerator.

Cooked balls should be consumed every day, one piece an hour before meals. The ball is put in the mouth and kept there until complete dissolution.

Pumpkin seeds are a fairly versatile product. It can be added to other dishes, such as salads. They can also be eaten as a snack. Doctors recommend eating them raw.

It is important to remember about the daily rate - you can eat no more than one hundred grams of peeled seeds per day.

Despite the fact that this product is recommended to use raw, many conduct heat treatments in the kitchen. The most common treatment is frying.

Most people prefer to eat similar foods in fried form. This is justified by the fact that after such processing the seeds get the taste of peanuts, and they become more pleasant to the taste.

In addition, very recently, scientists have found that roasted pumpkin seeds are much better than raw copes with strengthening epithelium cells, as well as protecting hair from hair loss.

In addition, their effect on the reproductive system is exactly the same as those seeds that have not been processed.

To prepare roasted pumpkin seeds you will need:

• one fresh small pumpkin;
• some salt;
• olive oil;
• plain water.

Should start with a pumpkin. It is necessary to cut it into two equal parts, after which you get all the seeds in the vegetable with a wooden spoon.

The presence of a pumpkin is optional. You can buy already collected seeds, however, it is best to get them personally, from fresh pumpkin.

The resulting seeds should be placed in a colander and rinse thoroughly with running water.

Next, the seeds are placed in a glass.

Then you need to add salt. The proportions are as follows: one tablespoon of table salt for half a glass of pumpkin seeds.

After all preparations, the seeds are placed in a deep pan, which is filled with plain water. It also does not hurt to add a little salt.

The water in the pan is brought to a boil, then the heat is reduced. Cooking should last about ten minutes, after which the seeds are placed in a colander.

Now you need an oven. It is heated to 200 degrees, and the baking sheet is smeared with olive oil. It will need about one tablespoon of the product.

Seeds are put in one layer and mixed thoroughly so that the product is completely in oil.

The baking tray is placed on the very first level. Cooking should continue until all seeds have a dark brown color. It usually takes about fifteen minutes - depending on the size of the seed. The more they are, the more time it will take to cook.

After cooking, the seeds are pulled out of the oven and cooled with cold water.

Often, roasted seeds without adding salt are not as tasty as desired. That is why the recipe for cooking salted pumpkin seeds was invented.

Here you will need:

• 300 grams of peeled pumpkin seeds;
• one teaspoon of sea salt;
• two teaspoons of unscented vegetable oil;
• spices for every taste;
• ground pepper.

The first step is to mix 300 grams of seeds with two teaspoons of vegetable oil and one teaspoon of sea salt.

The resulting mixture is spread in one layer in a pre-laid foil pan.

Baking tray is sent to the oven, the temperature of which should be 150 degrees. He is held there for about fifteen minutes, stirring the product every five to six minutes.

After cooking, the seeds must be laid out in a plate and add any spices.

Store the product only in a glass jar with a tight lid.

In addition to roasted, dried or raw pumpkin seeds, decoctions from them are also common. For their preparation, you only need to insist a small amount of seeds in boiling water. However, such a product is used not because it is tasty, but because it is healthy.

Typically, these "teas" are used to treat urinary or heart diseases.In these cases, they are really distinguished by their efficiency and reliability.

It is also worth noting that many people neglect washing such seeds before cooking or drinking them. This fact is very disappointing, as it is simply necessary to wash them before cooking, and before use. This is due to the presence of a large number of possible germs and dust. Washing is explained by simple rules of sanitation and personal hygiene.

It is also very important to dry the seeds from the oil after frying or drying. To do this, simply lay them on a dry towel in a single layer and hold them for about ten or fifteen minutes.

It is very undesirable to gnaw the peel of the seeds with your teeth, since such a process can greatly harm tooth enamel, causing tooth decay or more serious problems.

Due to the fact that the product has a positive effect on the body, a large number of various folk remedies have been created in the world associated with these seeds. They are used in prostate and diabetes, and in many other diseases.

In the case of such diseases, it is necessary to drink one glass of medicinal broth three times a day. This broth is made according to the following recipe: one teaspoon of thoroughly ground seeds is brewed with one cup of boiling water and left to stand for about half an hour.

You can also mix the same amount of pumpkin seeds and flax. Then they should be thoroughly grind, and then dilute with water.

Must form a thick gruel. From the resulting mixture make a compress on the renal region.

For the preparation of an effective remedy for pumpkin seeds against polyps You must use the following recipe:

• seven boiled yolks of chicken eggs are mixed with pumpkin seeds, which are carefully ground beforehand;
• four hundred milliliters of vegetable oil are added to the mixture;
• the solution is boiled for half an hour.

The resulting remedy should be drunk every morning with one teaspoon. The treatment lasts five days, after which it is necessary to take a break. The break also lasts five days. This mixture should be stored only in the refrigerator.

The second method is distinguished by its simplicity and affordability. Here it is necessary to drink the seeds brewed in water three times a day. To drink this "tea" is recommended about one week, one glass at a reception.

Cooking:

• one tablespoon of crushed pumpkin seeds is added to one cup of boiling water;
• It takes about thirty minutes to brew a drink.

Drink this broth should be three times a day, one glass.

With a strong cough, not pumpkin seeds are usually used, but flowers.

These flowers must be baked in dough to make small cakes.

The prepared product is recommended to eat several times a day, one at a time. This recipe is useful both for the disease itself and for prevention.

An alternative to flat cakes can make a special decoction.

To make it you need:

• two tablespoons of carefully chopped pumpkin flowers pour one cup of boiling water;
• boil for about five minutes;
• leave the broth for about thirty minutes to insist;
• strain the resulting infusion.

Take this broth should be three times a day thirty minutes before meals. The dosage is half a glass.

This product is very useful in the fight against acne, as the zinc content in it is quite high. Pumpkin seeds give the skin a healthy and beautiful look.

To improve health and immunity in general, it is necessary to take one tablespoon of pumpkin seeds mixed with honey every day.This should be done only on an empty stomach, and the duration of the course is only two weeks.

Against such ills should eat every day a handful of seeds, and only raw.

Besides this rather simple recipe, another was invented.

• Cotton swab moistened in pumpkin oil.
• Then it is introduced into the anus. The depth should be equal to the length of the index finger.
• The tampon is left overnight.
• Then, after one day, the procedure must be repeated. This must be done exactly ten times. The break between courses should be no more than one week.

When prostatitis is too advanced, use another tool:

• five hundred grams of seeds mixed with a hundred grams of honey;
• the mixture is placed in a refrigerator until thickening;
• then you should make a few balls of the mixture that you need to dissolve before eating.

No less popular is another fairly simple recipe.

A small amount of pumpkin seeds must be thoroughly crushed in a blender or in a meat grinder.

As a result of the treatment should get a powder. It should be taken twice a day - one tablespoon before meals.

Allowed to drink the mixture with water, to which were added two teaspoons of honey.

There is also a kind of "emulsion". This recipe is a bit similar to the previous one, however, here the resulting powder must be diluted with water.

The product that turned out in the end, you must mix with honey and use one tablespoon once a day - in the morning or in the evening.

As mentioned earlier, the product is also known for its anthelmintic action. For this effect, you should eat three tablespoons of raw seeds every day. This procedure will serve as a good prevention.

However, in the case when the parasites have already settled in the body, it is possible to conduct popular treatment.

• Take 150 grams of raw pumpkin seeds and carefully grind.
• Next, ground seeds are poured with one glass of boiled water.
• The resulting slowly drink one tablespoon. Before each sip, you must shake the mixture very carefully.
• After two hours, you should drink a laxative medication.
• After two weeks, the procedure must be repeated.

It was the first option, but the second one.

• The first step is to make garlic milk. For its preparation it is necessary to thoroughly clean and chop one garlic head.
• The resulting product is added to a glass of milk and boiled for exactly five minutes. After this time, the solution is left for one hour.
• Next you should eat one glass of pumpkin seeds, peeled from the peel.
• After that, the previously obtained solution should be drunk very slowly and in small sips.
• The intestine is washed with enema.
• Two weeks later, the procedure is repeated.

In addition to the above two tools, there are no less popular methods.

One of them is tea infused with pumpkin seeds. This method is very popular because it is considered the most simple and painless.

This tea must be drunk three times a day in one glass. It is desirable to do this thirty minutes before meals.

Often, this tool is used in diseases of the urinary system.

Another simple recipe for worms - pumpkin seeds with garlic.

Cooking:

• two hundred grams of uncleaned seeds must be fried in a pan without oil;
• roasted seeds should be minced;
• six carefully chopped garlic heads and two tablespoons of honey should be added to the mixture;
• the mixture is necessary to insist about twelve hours.

The resulting medication should be taken every day every four hours. The treatment lasts four days.

Recipe for worms with milk:

• two hundred grams of raw pumpkin seeds must be mixed with milk of any fat;
• blend the mixture in a blender.

The resulting gruel should be eaten for breakfast. An hour after such a meal, you should drink one glass of plain water. After another hour, you need to drink more water. You should drink as much as you like. After two and a half hours you need to drink castor oil.

With hemorrhoids, the story is the same as with prostatitis - a cotton swab is needed here. The recipe is similar. The wetted tampon is inserted into the anus, and after four hours it is replaced with another.

Usually the result becomes noticeable a week after the procedure.

To the procedure did not give bad results, the preparation of an oil solution for the liver should be done very carefully and strictly according to the recipe.

This oil should be drunk before each meal, one teaspoon. The treatment lasts about two weeks, and the course can be repeated only after six months.

For gastric diseases, decoctions of untreated seeds are used. They relieve pain in gastritis or ulcers. To do this, drink one tablespoon of broth half an hour before each meal. The course should last about three weeks.

Pumpkin decoctions and preparations on this basis can have a good effect on the intestines. Such tools are often used for constipation and bloating. With flatulence helps one popular recipe. It is necessary every day half an hour after eating to take one tablespoon of thoroughly milled seeds. This dosage works as a sorbent.

When constipation effectively works oil on the basis of pumpkin. Instead, you can use the tincture of pumpkin seeds. Here it is necessary to dissolve 150 ml of this tincture in a glass with water. This should be drunk all day.

And in the case of gout there is a popular recipe that can alleviate the general condition. To do this, twice a day to take one tablespoon of seeds. The treatment lasts ten days, after that you need ten days break, and then the procedure resumes.

One of the many advantages of pumpkin seeds is that they can be used in diabetes of any type, since their glycemic index is extremely low. In addition, in type 2 diabetes, it will be useful to arrange fasting days during which only raw pumpkin seeds should be eaten. In addition to seeds, you can also drink juice based on them.

The condition and health of the skin, as well as overall health, can be improved with daily pumpkin oil treatments. This oil should be taken orally, but, in addition to this procedure, it is also necessary to make compresses from the seeds.

For high-quality and prolonged sleep, the body requires a hormone such as melatonin. And those amino acids that are in pumpkin seeds are simply necessary for the synthesis of melatonin and serotonin.

To get rid of insomnia, you need to eat one hill of fresh seeds. After that, healthy sleep will be provided.

Many believe that this product is unsuitable for weight loss, as it has a high calorie content. However, this is not the case.

The product is digested for a long time, which is why it is often used as a snack, after which you don’t feel like eating for a long time.

In the people there is one simple diet, the menu of which is built on such seeds.

For one day take only two hundred grams of a product. In the event of hunger, eat six or seven grains. They should be chewed extremely slowly to enjoy the moment and delay the next meal, and then you should drink one glass of warm water.

This diet lasts from four to five days. In addition to pumpkin seeds, other products in the menu should not be.

Thoroughly ground seeds have a positive effect on the healing of various wounds and burns.

Application:

• Thoroughly ground seeds diluted with water. It should make a thick gruel.
• The resulting mixture is applied to the affected area, then bandaged with a bandage.
• After three hours, replace the product with a fresh one.
• This procedure must be performed until complete healing.

But it is worth remembering that such methods are often not the most effective, and it is best to consult a doctor, because with health jokes are bad. Traditional medicine does not inspire one hundred percent confidence and guarantee for recovery.

In addition, many reviews of all the above recipes are not entirely positive, which proves the unreliability of traditional medicine.

Besides drying and storing this product, no less important is his choice.

• It is advisable to choose only ripe cultures with peel. Seeds should not be empty or rotten.
• Seeds must be separated from the pumpkin, and then lay them on a dry towel.
• Drying should occur only in a room with good ventilation. Wash them is not worth it.

There are several ways to dry this product. However, they are all quite simple and affordable.

Instruction:

• it is necessary to clean all seeds from the remaining pieces of pumpkin pulp;
• all seeds should be thoroughly rinsed with running water;
• further, all seeds should be laid out in a single layer on a baking sheet, covered beforehand with a cloth or a dry towel;
• Prepared seeds on the baking sheet should be put in a dry cool place and leave them for a while.

Consider the step by step process of this technique.

• All seeds must be thoroughly rinsed under running water.
• It does not hurt to read the instructions for the oven or dryer. The instructions for such devices should include recipes and proper drying methods.
• Seeds should be laid out in one layer on a baking sheet covered with foil.
• Received goes to the oven. Drying should take place in the oven, the temperature of which is not more than a hundred degrees.
• The process lasts from two to three hours.

This method is very useful for those who are always late, and for those who are not used to waiting. Here it is very important not to move away from the oven far and for a long time, since the drying process takes place at extremely high temperatures. The risk of combustion is very high.

Cooking:

• you must clear all seeds from the remaining pumpkin pulp, and then rinse under running water;
• oven temperature should be no more and no less than 180 degrees;
• seeds are laid out in a single layer on a baking sheet covered with foil;
• then, the product must be sent to the oven for twenty-five minutes;
• in order to understand whether the product is ready or not, it is necessary to periodically try it;
• at the end of cooking, the seeds must be shifted to a cold surface, and then into a plate.

This process is more like frying than drying. However, for the second option it is often used.

Cooking:

• all seeds are cleaned from pumpkin residues and washed with water;
• then you need to put them in one layer on a plate and send in a microwave;
• drying time is two to three minutes, and the power must be turned on to full.

Store the product in a glass jar or in a fabric bag. Storage space should be dark and cool enough.

Since these seeds are very damp, it is necessary to follow all established storage rules.

• The product should be stored only in a dry place. This can be a bag or a can. It is important that moisture cannot get inside this cavity.
• It must be remembered that freshly peeled pumpkin seeds will not be stored for a long time. With direct contact with the air, the pumpkin oil left on the seeds begins to oxidize and then deteriorate.That is why the seed should be cleaned only before it is eaten.
• When buying seeds themselves, not pumpkins, you need to smell the product. If their smell is sharp and unpleasant, then the food is not of the best quality, and in this case it is better to pass by. Such a product will be not only tasteless, but, perhaps, and dangerous to health.
• It is worth noting that pumpkin seeds purchased in the store in finished form - not the best product. Such seeds are often cooked in adverse conditions and seasoned with a huge amount of harmful substances and seasonings. It is best to prepare a similar product yourself, at home. This is the only way to be completely confident in the quality and reliability of the ingredients used.
• Seeds that have been cleaned recently should be stored in the refrigerator, but not more than two months.
• Shelf life of dried seeds is not more than one year at home.

Pumpkin seeds are an excellent product that contains many useful components and properties. They earned their popularity for good reason, and, without any doubt, they should be consumed regularly.

A large amount of vitamins and minerals in these seeds has a positive effect on the body and human health.

However, in the use of such a useful product should be careful, because this vegetable has its own contraindications and harm.

But with the right approach and the right daily amounts, pumpkin seeds will bring only the benefits and pleasure that are so necessary in life.

How to fry pumpkin seeds for three minutes, see the next video.